BAY AREA DATELINES

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, February 24, 1999

AH: City settles federal disabilities suit San Francisco The Americans with Disabilities Act Task Force has settled its federal civil rights lawsuit against The City and Mayor Willie Brown.

The suit, filed 19 months ago, charged The City and the mayor with discriminating against people with disabilities for failing to produce an ADA self-evaluation and transition plan, blueprints for how The City intends to make its programs, activities, services and facilities available to the disabled. The plans are mandated by the 1973 passage of the Rehabilitation Act.

Under the terms of the settlement announced Tuesday, The City has agreed to fund both the ADA self-evaluation and the transition plan, which will include public input and should be completed in 15 to 18 months.

The agreement also creates a mayor's Office on Disability, with a director and staff to work with all city departments to improve accessibility to city programs.